http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/02/f-150-spinning-commercial.jpg (http://www.fordvehicles.com/f150behindthescenes/)
You were watching the Super Bowl yesterday, right? If for no other reason than to see the commercials, of course. Ford ran an ad that demonstrated the "Built Ford Tough" ethos by hooking up an F-150 pickup to a centrifuge by its front tow hooks and spinning it around in a circle like your favorite uncle used to do when you were a kid. When we saw the ad last night, we instantly wondered if Ford really did it or the power of computer graphics was at play. As it turns out, the automaker employed no camera tricks, no computer enhancements, and just used a giant centrifuge that spun the truck at six Gs. At those forces, the hooks, which Ford points out are looped instead of hooked, were subjected to the equivalent of six times the vehicle's weight as it swung around at over 60 mph.
If you missed it, or just want to see the hoonage again, we've got the video for you after the jump (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/04/video-ford-spins-f-150-at-six-gs-for-real/), and if you follow this link (http://www.fordvehicles.com/f150behindthescenes/), Ford's got a "Behind the Scenes" video of how the commercial was made. Just don't try this at home... with your giant centrifuge.

[Source: Ford]

joee5

02-05-08, 01:41 PM

Amazing isnt it?

Blackout

02-05-08, 01:56 PM

I thought it was the usual computer graphics and what not

Lord Cadillac

02-05-08, 02:00 PM

That IS pretty amazing! heh!

AMGoff

02-05-08, 02:50 PM

*Mental Note... If in need of truck to whirl around a giant centrifuge - Buy a Ford.

If in need of truck to do anything else - Buy something else, preferably a new Ram.

Playdrv4me

02-05-08, 02:56 PM

*Mental Note... If in need of truck to whirl around a giant centrifuge - Buy a Ford.

If in need of truck to do anything else - Buy something else, preferably a new Ram.

Thing is, for this ad to have any merit other than cool rights, it should have been done with its competitors as well. Im sure if you equip the Ram with closed tow hooks you could swing it from the empire state building too (and be more comfortable inside).

The real irony is that less than 1% of the pickups in America ever haul anything heavier than a bag of groceries. You never see one of those big dually diesels carrying anything bigger than a twelve pack. Once in a while you see an old beater on it's way to the landfill with a load of brush.

Wait a second- you mean that tiny disclaimer that says "Chain movements and timing enhanced" means that those guys in labcoats weren't really from the Toyota Institute of Higher Truckiness??

:lol:

Jesda

02-06-08, 06:05 PM

The Navigator today is working its butt off hauling inventory. Its nice to use an SUV for utilitarian things. :) It has more space and feels less bogged down than when the Range Rover carried less weight. Seems to want to brake better under a full load than the RR too.